Embassy News

Papadopoulos satisfied with his visit to Egypt
2006-05-08 12:22:13

Larnaca, May 7 (CNA) -- Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has described as ''very useful and fruitful'' the meeting he had in Egypt with the President of the country Hosni Mubarak. Papadopoulos expressed the belief that the meeting ''will help even more towards the further tightening and development of the relations'' between the two countries.

Papadopoulos, who was speaking to the press upon his arrival from Egypt, where he paid an official visit, said that Egypt ''is a constant friend that has supported Cyprus in all international fora diachronically'', adding that ''we have got assurances that this friendly and supporting stance of Egypt will not change.''

Asked about the importance of the agreements signed during his visit to Egypt, President Papadopoulos said the agreements set up a safe and sound framework for the joint exploitation of oil deposits in the seabed ''and particularly of those passing through the medial line between the two exclusive zones of economic exploitation.''

The agreements cover the co-exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits in the line between the two countries' exclusive economic zones, the cooperation of the two countries in the production of electricity and renewable sources, a special programme on cultural, scientific and technological cooperation, scientific cooperation on research and development and a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in development.

Asked when the exploitation of the oil deposits will begin, Papadopoulos said this will be done ''once we find them.'' As the Cyprus President said researches started by Cyprus and Egypt during the last months and continue, without any publicity, and ''the results seem to be interesting''.

Yesterday, President Papadopoulos visited the Alexandria and All Africa Patriarchate, where he was welcomed by Patriarch Theodoros II and the Governor of Alexandria Mohamed Abd Elmahgob, who accompanied the President during his stay in the city.

Papadopoulos ensured the Patriarch that the Alexandria and All Africa Patriarchate will have his government's full support as well as the support of all the Cypriot people and himself personally.

Asked by an Egyptian journalist about the role Cyprus can play in the Palestinian issue, Papadopoulos said that the questions of Cyprus and Palestine are similar, noting that Cyprus' role in solving international issues cannot be a major one, due to its small size.

He added though that ''we have supported consistently on the basis of principles the struggle of the Palestinian people.''